Only allowing children aged under 14 to be detained for serious crimes

Banning the use of tear gas and force or restraint being used to discipline children

Introducing body-worn video cameras in youth detention centres

Prohibiting extendable periods in isolation over 24 hours, or its use as a punishment

Requiring youth justice officers to have demonstrated experience in working with youth

Developing a 10-year generational strategy to address child protection and prevention of harm to children

Increasing engagement with and involvement of Aboriginal Organisations in child protection, youth justice and detention

"We recognise some of what we are proposing marks a profound shift from past practice in the NT, but it is necessary as what has been relied upon to date has and continues to simply fail the entire community," co-commissioners Margaret White and Mick Gooda said in a statement.

They said their investigation had found "shocking and systemic failures occurred over many years and were known and ignored at the highest levels".

"Children and young people were subjected to regular, repeated and distressing mistreatment in detention and there was a failure to follow the procedures and requirements of the law in many instances," they added.

They said the NT's detention system "failed to comply with basic binding human rights standards in the treatment of children and young people" and that children were denied their basic needs such as water while imprisoned.

The commissioners said their findings vindicated the decision of the Australian and NT governments to call for the royal commission.

It also found that children were subject to verbal abuse, physical control and humiliation, including being denied access to basic human needs such as water, food and the use of toilets.

Children were also dared or bribed to carry out degrading and humiliating acts, or to commit acts of violence on one other.

They also found that youth justice officers restrained children using force to their head and neck areas and that isolation has continued to be used inappropriately, punitively and inconsistently with the Youth Justice Act (NT), causing many to suffer.

Call to end detention of children aged under 14

In child protection, the commission found that the NT Government had failed to comply with the statutory requirements that all children in out-of-home care have timely care plans, and found there was a major shortage of available foster and Aboriginal kinship care placements.

The commissioners called for a greater use of youth diversion, and an end to detention for children under 14 unless there were exceptional circumstances.

They estimated that detention costs would triple from $37.3 million last financial year to $113.4 million in 10 years, but said if the NT adopted their recommendations to change its approach to youth detention, it would save $335.5 million in the same period.

In a statement, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said: "While most of the recommendations of this royal commission are matters for the Northern Territory, the Australian Government will now carefully consider those findings directed to the Commonwealth.

"Importantly, many of the recommendations have wider implications for all jurisdictions."

He acknowledged the courage of children and young people, and their families and wider communities for giving evidence before the commission.

"This is a serious report and the Government is committed to ensuring it carefully, comprehensively and appropriately responds to the substantial work of the Commission."